Sanitary napkin machine



March 13, 1934. C w E SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE 7 Sheet s Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1929 Zlwuentoz 6. It in Z37 Citbomwgs March 13, .1934. p WINTER 1,950,765

SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE lled Ma 4. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 k l\ v n {g \D o b I a G g Q I x I q] LJIEI O L\ m E a H 2 e .i e

gwuentor R v I a N W z it far V dt toi wags March 13, 1934. i Q P, w T R' 1,950,765

SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE Filed May 4, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 13, 1934. Q P W|NTER 1,950,765

smuww mrxm momma Filed May 4, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 62] Win fer c; P. WINTER SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE Filed May 4. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 13, 1934;

March 13, 1934; c. P. WINTER 1,950,765

SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE Filed May 4, 1929 'T Sheets-Sheet 6 I I I Z Iwwntoc March 13, 1934. R WINTER 1,950,765

SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE Filed May 4. 1929 7' Sheets-Sheet 7 TTIIILlI mg gwoentov a]? m)? fer EL r r Patented Man-13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE Application May 4, 1929, Serial No. 360,595

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for the manufacture of rial properly folded and enclosing therein at regular intervals pads formed of a specific absorbent material, shaped for proper application to the body of the wearer, the web enclosing said pads being adapted for cutting into individual sanitary napkins ready for user A further object of the invention resides in providingan improved means for automatically placing upon a continuous web a quantity of wood wool, adapted to be shaped to form the pads for the napkins.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved shaping means, whereby said pads of wood wool are tapered at their edges to effect a proper fitting to the body when in use.

A further object of the invention resides in an improved means for folding the web of material over the pads deposited thereon to properly enclose the same.

Still another object resides in the provision of an improved means for depositing on the web of material, prior to the deposit of the pad .material thereon a layer or film of cotton fiber, so that when the pad is enclosed within the web of material, said pad will be also enveloped in the cotton fiber film to prevent the sifting of the pad material through the covering of the napkin.

A still further object resides in providing a machine which is comparatively simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very efficient and 40 useful in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part.

Figure 4 is a. plan view of a part of the machine shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of that part of the machine forming a continuation of the device as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 'is an enlarged vertical section as seen on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section as seen on the line 7-7 of Figure 5, with a knife in its raised position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse section as seen on the line 88 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a similar view as seen on the line 9-9 of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a similar view as seen on the line 10-10 of Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a' similar view as seen on the line 11-11 of Figure 4;

Figure 12 is a transverse section as seen on the line 12-12 of Figure 5, showing the knife blade in elevation;

Figure 13 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the rotating elements for depositing material on the web forming the covering or wrapping for the napkin;

Figure 14 is a vertical transverse sectio through .the elements shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a vertical transverse section as seen on the line 15-l5 of Figure 1'; 5

Figure 16 is a plan view of a fragment of one of the rotary elements showing the shape of the opening therein through which the material is blown onto the continuous web;

Figure 17 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a slight modification of the rotary element used in the machine;

Figure 18 is a transversesection therethrough as seen on the line 18-18 of Figure 17;

Figure 19' is a fragmentary plan view of a web forming the covering of the napkin having a film of cotton fiber deposited thereon, and

Figure 20 is a similar view after the deposit of the wood wool on the film of cotton fiber.

In describing the invention I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 designates an elongated frame upon which are supported in spaced relation to one another the rotating cylindrical members zand 3, respectively. These members are rotatable-from the axes 4 and 5, respectively and each has its periphery provided with a plurality of spaced openings 6 which are shaped as illustrated in Figure 16 of the drawof the member 3 and the latter is time ings. These openings are spaced at regular intervals throughout the periphery of the rotat- 111g element and mounted within the elements 2 and 3 and communicating with the openings 6 therein are the tubular conduits 7. These conduits taper toward their inner ends and the inner ends are angularly bent as shown at 8 to connect with openings 9 formed in one side wall of the rotating element.

A pair of blowers 10 and 11 are p v ded respectively with the conduits 12, and 13 which respectively operate in connection with the openings 9 of the respective rotating elements 2 and 3. As shown clearly in Figure 15, the upper end of each of these conduits 12 and 13 is bent angularly and is provided with a bearing 14 which abuts the side wall of the rotating elements. As these rotating elements are in operation, the openings 9 therein register with the ends of the conduits 12 and 13 so that material blown from the blower will enter the tubular passages 7 and pass therefrom through the openings 6, as the machine is operated.

The blower 10, through the medium of a pipe 15 communicates with a source of supply whereby cotton fibers are fed to and through the rotating elements 2 while a conduit 16 connects with the blower 11 and communicates with a source of supply of finely disintegrated wood pulp known to the art as wood wool. I

Mounted above the rotary member 2 in spaced relation to one another and in slightly spaced relation to the member 2 are the rollers 17 and 18 and similar rollers 19 and 20 are mounted above the rotating element 3. Mounted below the rotating element 2 and forward thereof is an additional roller 21 whilea similar roller 22 is rotatably mounted below the rotating element 3 and rearward thereof. An endless belt 23, formed of fabric or any other desired material extends over these rollers and partially over the rotating elements 2 and 3, as clearly shown in the somewhat diagrammatic view illustrated in Figure 1.- R0- tatably mounted at the forward end of the frame 1 Ba roll of gauze designated by the numeral 24. This gauze is passed over the belt 23 as it passes over the rollers 17 and 18 and under the belt in contact directly with the peripheral face of the roller 2 as said belt passes over the latter, then over the belt as it passes over rollers 19 and 20 and under said belt as it passes over the rotating member 3. The web of gauze is then continued on through the machine in a manner to be hereinafter and more particularly described.

As this gauze 24 passes over the rotating member 2, a thin film or layer of disintegrated cotton fibers are deposited thereon at regular intervals, which fibers are directed through the member 2 from the blower 10 and in Figure 19 there is disclosed a plan view illustrating the film or layer of cotton fibers on the gauze designated by the numeral 25. The gauze strip or web continuing from the member 2 by action of the belt 23 brings its patches or layers of cotton fibers in contact with the preipheral face with respect theretoso that there will be de sited on each film or layer of cotton fiber a wad of wood wool blown thereon through the medium of the blower 11. In Figure 20 I have illustrated this wad or pad of wood wool and desighated the same by the numeral 26, the same bein: shown deposited upon the film or layer of cotton fiber 25 which in turn is carried on the gauze strip 24.

Any source of power (not shown) may be provided for the rotation of the elements 2 and 3, it being understood that as one element is rotated and the endless belt 23 is carried thereover, the other will be simultaneously rotated which in turn will carry the gauze 24 thereover.

As the web of gauze leaves the endless belt 23 it is conveyed onto an endless carrier 27, the upper stretch of which forms substantially a table therefor. This endless carrier 27 is operated by means of a chain 28 extending over sprockets 29, 30 and 31 operating on shafts 32, 33 and 34, respectively. These sprockets are supported von the frame in a manner more particularly and clearly set forth in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings. As the wads or pads of wood wool on the web of gauze are carried on this endless carrier 27 they are adapted to be shaped into a form well adapted to fit the body of the wearer. ese wads or pads 26 are first brought into contact with a pair of diagonally disposed rotary discs 35, the peripheral edges of which engage the side portions of the pads 26 and taper the side edges of said pads or wads of wood wool, so that the same will be higher or thicker in the centerthan at the side edges. These shaping discs 35 are carried on arms 36 which are suspended from a transverse shaft 37 carried on the support 38. Also mounted on the shaft 37 is a central flattening roller 39 which contacts with the pads 26 after they are shaped by the discs 35. This roller 39 flattens out the wood wool, so that the particles thereof adhere closely one to the other and the height which has been exaggerated by reason of the shaping discs 35 will be reduced.

Arms 40 project rearwardly from the supports 38 and have pivoted therebetween a pressing plate 41 which is elongated in design 'and tends to contact with the upper face of the pads 26 as they progress over the endless carrier 27 to keep said pads in proper shape during the folding of the web 24 thereover.

As the web or strip of gauze 24 with the pads 26 thereon moves along the conveyor 27, said side of the machine, well shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. These pulleys are respectively mounted on' vertical shafts 46, 47 and 48. The shaft 48 is a driven shaft which causes the belt 42 to be actuated when said shaft is rotated. The stretch of the belt 42 between rollers 45 and 43 first contacts with one side of the web 24 and tends to turn it inwardly as shown in Figure 4 and this inwardly folded portion of the web is held downwardly in place over the base or central portion of the web by means of a downwardly pressing elongated plate 49', as -clearly shown in Figure 4.015 the drawings. The stretch of the belt 42 between the pulleys 44 and 45 'contacts with 'the opposite side edge of the web the pads or wads 26 of wood wool. If desired, some means may be provided (not shown) to assist in this folding operation, although it' has been found that the belt 42 will accomplish the desired results. The downwardly pressing plate or strip 49 is pivotally supported on a shaft 50 extending transversely of the carrier 2'7 and supported in the arms 51, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. It may be here stated that in starting the machine the web is folded over in position by hand and drawn under the folding members to start the folding operation.

As stated above, the pulley 45 is carried on a vertical shaft 48, shown clearly in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings and this shaft 48 carries intermediate its ends an additional pulley 52 over which extends a belt 53 trained over a pulley 54 carried on a longitudinal shaft 55. )n this shaft 55 is a pinion 56 meshing with a pinion 5'7 carried on the shaft 33. A motor 58 drives the shaft 34 through the medium of a belt 59 and a pulley 60 and as this shaft 34 connects with the shaft 33 through the medium of the endless belt and chain 27 and 28, it will be seen that the shaft 55 will be rotated upon the rotation of the shaft 34 to actuate the elements and parts connected therewith.

This shaft 55 extends rearwardly of the section of the machine carrying the belt 2'7 and has a knife blade 61. connected with the end thereof which is caused to rotate in a plane transversely of the machine, as clearly shown in Figures 2, '1 and 12 of the drawings.

The frame of the machine continues beyond that portion supporting the belt 2'7 and supports therein mechanism carrying an endless conveyor 62. This conveyor '62 comprises preferably a series of slats or the like connected to and held together by means of an endless chain 63 at one side edge thereof. This chain extends over sprockets 64, and 66 which are respectively carried on rollers or the like supported on shafts 6'7, 68 and 69, respectively. The shafts 6'7 and 68 are supported by the upstanding brackets or supports '70 and the shaft 69 which ,is suspended from the frame is held in place by means of the bracket '71, clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The shaft 55 adjacent its rear end has a pinion 72 thereon meshing with a pinion '73 carried on the shaft 67, clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, so that as said shaft 55 is rotated, the shaft 6'7 will be caused to rotate ,and correspondingly operate the endless carrier 62.

As the web of folded gauze with the pad enclosed therein leaves the belt 27, the same is fed on to the upper stretch of the endless belt or conveyor 62 and said belt or conveyor is slotted at regular intervals throughout its length, as shown at 74. These slots are provided by the omission of a slat at regular intervals and these slots provide for the passing of the knife blade 61 therethrough as the shaft 55 is rotated,'it being understood of course that the belt or conveyor 62 and the shaft 55 are timed so that the knife blades will enter the slots 74 as the knife blade is rotated. Obviously the folded web of gauze with the pads therein will be cutias the knife blade passes therethrough and the individual napkins will thus be formed, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. These individual napkins are designated in the drawings by .the numeral '75. As these napkins are cut and fed from the endless carrier or conveyor 62, the same are collected, the ends of the web of gauze folded over the pad portion thereof and the same boxed and made ready for shipment.

In Figures 17 and 18 I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention which is adapted for use in connection with a specific type of napkin and whereby one of the two rotary elements 5 heretofore described may be eliminated. To this end I provide a rotary element 76 similar to the rotary elements 2 and 3, heretofore described, except that the same is provided with a greater number of-openings in the periphery thereof and correspondingly a greater number of channels or chutes through which material may be blown. The openings in the peripheral face of the rotary elements '76 communicate .with chutes which I have designated by the-numeral 7'7, all of which terminate in one side wall of the member '76, a the openings in the latter wall being designated by the numeral '78. An arcuate plate or the like '78 is supported against the latter wall of the member '76 and supports therein a U-shaped manifold or the like '79 which communicates with a conduit 80. The two openings of the manifold '79 are adapted to register with two openings '78 and an additional conduit 81 is vcaused to rotate under the action of a belt or endless carrier 82 which is adaptedto carry a gauze strip 83 thereon, the openings in the member '76 will register successively with the arms of the manifold '79 and the conduit 81. The upper arm of the'manifold '79 will deposit on the web of gauze a film or layer of cotton fiber, for instance, and as that same opening l20 next registers with the opening in the conduit 81, material, such as wood wool, will be deposited" on the cotton fiber fllm or layer and next as said opening registers with the opening in'the lower arm of the manifold 79, a second layer or film of cotton fiber will be deposited over the wad or batch of wood or the like which may be deposited on this first film of cotton fiber. In this manner, it will be seen that there may be,

produced, through the medium of a single ro- 160 tary element a sanitary napkin, the pad of which may consist of alternating layers of cotton fiber I and wood wool or other absorbent material which may be used. By this means the duplic'ating of rotary elements is eliminated and it 35- will further be seen that when wood wool is used as the intermediate layerwhich may be fed to this rotary element such material will' be entirely enveloped or enclosed within layers of cotton fiber to prevent said wool from sifting 1 through the gauze covering of the napkin when completed. 011 the other hand, it will be seenthat the disposition of material through these conduits to the rotary elements may be reversed from that hereabove described. In other words, -wood wool may be utilized for distribution through the conduit 80 and its manifold '79 and cotton fiber-distributed through the conduit 81 so that upon the ,first deposit of material on the web 83. there will be wood wool, on the second deposit there will be a layer or film of cotton fiber and a third deposit of wood wool. Thus when the pad is completed it will consist of wood wool through the middle of which will appear a thin layer of cotton fiber, which layer of fiber tends to hold together and strengthen the pad of wood wool.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved machine, the operation thereof and the manner of applying the same to use will be readily understood and' it will be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set'forth, it is obvious that'various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a machine for making sanitary napkins, a frame, means for conveying a web over the frame, means for depositing a material on said web at regular spaced intervals, additional means for depositing a separate absorbent material on the first mentioned material on said web, and means for folding said web over the absorbent material thereon.

2. In a machine for making sanitary napkins, a frame, means for conveying a web over the frame, means for depositing a layer of facing material on said web, additional means for depositing on the layer of facing material an absorbent material, means for simultaneously folding the web and layer of facing material about the absorbent material while the layer of facing material is superimposed on said web, and means for cutting said folded web with material there-- 1n.

3.'In a machine for making sanitary napkins, a frame, means for conveying a web over the frame, rotary means in contact with said web for depositing a layer of cotton fiber on said web at regular spaced intervals thereon, additional rotary means in contact with said web for. depositing on the layers of cotton fibers pads of absorbent material and means for folding the web over the material thereon.

4. In a machine for making sanitary napkins, a frame, means for conveying a web over the frame, rotary means in contact with said web for depositing a layer of cotton fiber on said web at regular spaced intervals thereon, additional rotary means in contact with said web for depositing on the layers of cotton fibers pads of absorbent material and means for transversely severing the web at regular intervals to produce individual napkins. V 5. In a machine for making sanitary napkins, a frame, means for conveying a web over the fame, means for depositing wads of absorbent material in a free fibrous state on said web, means for compressing said absorbent material into pads of predetermined design, and means for folding said web over the pads of absorbent material.

6. In a machine for making sanitary napkins, a frame, means for conveying a web over said frame, means for depositing pads of absorbent material at regular spaced intervals on said web, means for compressing said pads to predetermined shape as the same are fed on the rial at regular intervals on said web, means for depositing a padof absorbent material on each layer of material on said web, means for compressing said pads to a predetermined shape, and means for folding the web to enclose the pads therein.

8. In a machine for making sanitary napkins,

a frame, means forconveying a web over said frame, means for depositing a layer of material at regular intervals on said web, means for depositing a pad of absorbent material on each layer of material on said web, means for compressing said pads to a predetermined shape, and means for folding the web to enclose the pads therein and means for transversely cutting the folded web with the pads therein at regular intervals.

9. In a machine of the character described, an endless carrier to serve as a conveyor for a strip of web, and a rotary member positioned to contact with the web and be partially surrounded by said web and carrier and serving to deposit on said web on regular spaced intervals a specified material.

10. In a machine of the character described, an endless carrier to serve as a conveyor for a strip of web, a rotary cylindrical member positioned to contact with said web and be partially surrounded by said web and carrier, said rotary member having chutes extending therethrough and terminating in the periphery thereof, and means for projecting material under pressure through said chutes for deposit on said web.

11. In a machine of the character described, an endless carrier to serve as a conveyor for a strip of web, a rotary cylindrical member disposed to contact with said web and be partially surrounded by said web and endless carrier, said rotary member being provided with radial chutes terminating at one end in the periphery of said member, the opposite ends of said chutes terminating in the side wall of said member, and means in contact with the last mentioned side wall of said member for supplying material to said chute under air pressure for deposit on said web, as and for the purposes described.

12. In a machine of the character described, an endless carrier to serve as a conveyor for a strip of web, a cylindrical distributing member disposed to have its periphery in contact with said web and be partially surrounded by said web and said carrier, said distributing member being provided with distributing channels terminating in the periphery thereof, and means for supplying an absorbent material under air pressure to the channels of said distributing member for deposit on said web.

13. The method of producing sanitary napkins consisting in passing a web over a surface, applying to said web at regular intervals thereon an absorbent material in a free fibrous state, compressing the absorbent material to form pads of predetermined shape, folding the web over the absorbent material and cutting the folded web at regular intervals.

14. In a machine for making sanitary napkins, aframe, means for conveying a web over the frame, means for pneumatically depositingabmaterial, applying to said latter material an absorbent material in a free fibrous state, enfolding the absorbent material within both the web and the superimposed facing material of the web, and cutting the folded web at regular intervals.

COURTNEY P. WINTER. 

